Pin setting device for bowling alleys



Feb. 11, 1941. R. E. RUNDELL PIN SETTING DEVICE FOR BOWLING ALLEYS FiledJuly 28, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR in BY ape/Z F/Pzmdell I TTORNEYFeb. 11, 1941 R. E. RUNDELL 2,231,842

PIN SETT'ING DEVICE FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed July 28, 1938 3 Sheets-Shet2 ATTORNEY Feb. 11, 1941- R. E. RUNDELL 2,231,842

PIN SETTING DEVICE FOR BQWLING ALLEYS Filed July 28; 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet3 65 QWV/ W1 INVENTCR 46 Raped Efizmdell ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 11,1941

PIN SETTING DEVICE FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Rupert E. Rundell, RockvilleCentre, N. Y., assignor'to American Machine & Foundry Company, acorporation of New Jersey Application July 28, 1938, Serial No. 221,680

I 17 Claims.

My invention relates to pin setting machines, and more particularly toimprovements in mechanism for more efiicientlyhandling pins andposiiioning them on an alley.

In devices of this type heretofore known attempts have been made toprovide means for automatically locating a frame of ten pinson an alleyin such a manner that they coincide with the spots on the alley'and are,concentric l0 therewith. When the first ball has been thrown, all of thepins mayfalland result in a strike, in which case a newframe, of pinsmust be set on the alley. On the other hand, if one or more pins remainstanding after the first ball is thrown,

it is necessary to lift the standing pins away from the alley, sweep thedead wood or fallen pins therefrom, and then return the pins lifted tothe exact positions they occupied upon the alley prior to being liftedbefore the game can be resumed. It frequently happens that after one ormore balls have been thrown, some of the pins still standing have beenshifted laterally and are, therefore, no longer located in concentricrelation to the spots on the alley. This situation gives rise to aconsiderable problem because under the rules of the game, beforethrowing succeeding balls, pins after being lifted must be returned tothe exact positions to which moved, by previously thrown balls, andpositioning them on their original spotted locations on the alley is notallowed.

Although attempts have been made to solve the problems of removing pinsfrom the alley to sweep dead wood therefrom, and to relocate them inexact playing position thereon, they have not proven wholly satisfactoryfor one reason or another, chiefly, however, because of the failure todevelop devices for properly engaging the pin heads in order to raisethem for alley sweeping and relocation, either on the spots, or theexact playing position they occupied before" they were handled. Anotherdisadvantage has beencaused by the necessity of modifying the pins tomeet the demands of a particular machine, a practice also frowned upon.Still another disadvantage 'comes about from the complexity of themagnetic or mechanical mechanism developed for this purpose.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a pin settingmachine having as a. part 60 thereof improved devices for handling thepins during their transportation to a bed for initial location thereonin frame order of ten pins, and also to furnish simplified andefllciently operating means for handling the standing pins during 55 theremoval of fallen pins from the alley and gutters, and relocate them inexact position on the alley.

It is a further object of the invention to provide pin lifting andholding mechanism wherein Y each of the pin handling devices is providedwith 5 a separate, and individually operating control device whichgoverns the gripping and ejection of pins from each of the handlingdevices upon the alley.

It is a further object of the invention to pro- 10 vide a pin liftingdevice wherein the several, pin holding members or units whichconstitute the device are individually operable to effect the dischargeof pins therefrom.

It is an added object of the invention to pro- 15 vide separate andindividually movable latching means for each of the several pin holders,and provide suitable mechanism for operating them to release pins at thedesired timein promr location upon the alley, either upon the spots de-20 lineated upon the alley at the beginning of the game, and before thefirst ball hasbeen thrown, or to deposit them after the removal of deadwood from the alley in the precise position the pins occupied beforetheir being lifted therefrom, 25 and further, to furnish improvedcontrol mechanism for lifting and respotting pins which makes thisstructure more practical and efllcient than any heretofore known.

It is a further object of the invention to pro- 30 vide improvedmechanism for initially locating a frame of the required number of pinsupon an alley, and also to provide mechanism which is positive,operative and eilicient in the subsequent handling of pins during theintermediate stages 35 01 play, such for instance as the treatment ofthe pins prior to the throwing of the second ball, in the case oftenpins or games played similarly, or prior to the handling of thesecond and third 0 balls where three balls are used.

The inyention also contemplates the provision of electrical controldevices for each of the several pin lifting and transfer units, whichdevices will function-with respect to their respective units 5regardless of the action at another. This control system makes itpossible to always pick up pins for sweeping dead wood from the alley,regardless of the number of pins standing upright thereon.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, theinvention consists in certain combinations and constructions which willbe hereinafter fully described, and then specificallyset forth in theclaims hereunto app In the accompanying drawings which form a part ofthis specification, and in which like characters of reference indicatethe same or like parts:

Fig. l is a partial side elevation, partly in crosssection, of the pinelevator of an automatic bowling alley pin setting machine provided withmy pin holder units, in its upper or pin receiving position;

Fig. 2 is a similar partial side elevation of the mechanism shown inFig. 1, in its reversed or lower delivery position, taken on line 2-2 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a plan view, parts broken away, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section of one of the improved pin holdingunits in its lower position for picking up a pin left standing afterthrowing of the first ball, and also showing the electrical connectionsfor energizing the pin discharge mechanism at the proper time;

Fig. 5 is a partial side view showing means suitable for raising andlowering the pin holding unit transfer elevator table; and

Fig. 6 is a view taken on line 6-Ii of Figure 5.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration a preferredembodiment of my invention is shown, there is provided a pin settingelevator or carrier designated generally 65, which elevator transfers aplurality of pins, received from a transfer mechanism T, to an alley 40where the pins P are located on the bed spots of the alley, performs allintermediate functions incident to bowling each frame, and then returnsto its original position to receive a new set of pins at the end of eachbowling cycle. Transfer T may be of the type shown in the Schmidtapplication referred to below.

The elevator 65 is mounted for vertical and rotary movement in guides 46and is raised, loweredand rotated through 180 by means of cable I05secured to block I03. Since this mechanism may be substantially the sameas that shown and described in co-pending application, Serial No. 204,-995, filed April 29, 1938, by Gottfried J. Schmidt, although thespecific turning mechanism forms no part of the present Invention.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, elevator 65 comprises a generallytriangular frame member I upon which are supported for movementtherewith, ten pin holding units 2 arranged to correspond with thearrangement of the bowling pins P, when placed in the spotted positionupon the bed of a bowling alley. Each of the units has individuallycontrolled and operated means for gripping pins for transferring themfrom a receiving position, and also for releasing them upon the bed atthe desired time.

Referring particularly to Fig. 4 it will be noted that each of the pinholding units 2 consists of a hollow cylindrical casing or housing 3provided with a top 4 and bottom 6 having aligned circular openings '5and 1, respectively, formed therein. These casings 3 are mounted forshifting or lateral movement with reference to the frame I in order tomake it possible to properly spot the pins and also to return pinslifted from the bed 40 by the units 3 to the exact position theyoccupied when removed from the the bed. In the illustrated embodiment,the casings 3 are held between frame I and apertured plate 8, whichplate is secured at a fixed distance, that of the height of the casings,from frame I by means of bolts III and spacing sleeves I I, locatedbetween the frame and plate and surrounding the bolts. The openings 9 inplate 8 are located adjacent openings I in casings 3.

Within each of the casings 3 is located a diskshaped plunger I2 securedto a plunger rod I3 slidably mounted in frame I. On the upper end 5 ofeach of the rods I3 is fixed a head I4 which cooperates with a separatelatch member I5. A compression spring I3I is coiled around rod I3 insidecasings 3, and normally urges plunger I2 downwardly into pin dischargingor ejecting posi- 10 tion, as described more fully hereinafter.

In order to prevent any shifting of the pin holding units when pins aregripped by the grippers I6, either during the transfer from receiving topin releasing position upon an alley, or while 15 the pins are beinglifted from an alley prior to the removal of dead wood therefrom, platesI2 1 located on plunger rods I3 are provided for clamping the casings 3against any lateral move ment. Due to the fact that the heads I4 of the20 plungers I2 are held in latched position, springs I3I which arecompressed, force the plates I20. into firm engagement with the tops 4of the casings and hold them against movement. When no pins are held bythe grippers, plates I2a float 25 on springs I3I and the casings 3 arefree to be shifted laterally by the pins to any position within limitsdetermined by the diameter of the plates I2.

Each of the pin holder units 3 is provided with 30 a set of funnel-likedownwardly and outwardly flaring gripper members which act both to guidepins into the units and to hold them during the transferring and liftingoperations. Four flared gripper members I6 are shown in the drawings,although any other suitable number can be used. These members extendthrough the apertures 9 in plate 8, opening I in the casing bottoms 6,and are arranged about the central axis of the unit 3, below plunger I2.The gripper members I8 are 40 mounted for gripping action on springpressed fingers I 'I carried by slide rods IB slidably mounted in thecasing bottom 8, and urged into pin gripping position by springs I9.

One of the most important features of this invention resides in theprovision of independent operating mechanism for each of the pin holderunits 3 which make it impossible for them not to lift pins standing onthe bed of the alley whenever this is desired. In the illustratedembodiment, 50 mechanism used for each holder shown in detail in Fig. 4,may consist of a post or bracket 20 mounted on the elevator frame Iadjacent each plunger head I4. Fixed to each bracket is a solenoid 2|provided with an armature 22 connected 55 by link 23 to a latch lever 24pivotally mounted on post 20, and engaging latch I5. Each latch I5 isslidably located in a groove 26 formed in the face of the frame I, asshown in Figs. 3 and 4, and held therein by means of a screw 21 which 60extends through an elongated slot 28 in the latch and is threaded intoframe I. The latch I5 is normally urged towards plunger head I4 by meansof a spring 29 located in bores 30 and 3| formed in post 20 and thelatch. The operating 5 solenoids for the ten holders are connected inparallel for joint pin release action.

, In the operation of the pin elevator as it moves to and from the bed,it will be apparent that when a charge of pins is placed in the several70 holders, the pressure exerted by the pin heads against plungers I2will cause springs I3I to be compressed, heads I4 to be moved outwardlyand the latches I5, which have been pressing resiliently against theirrespective heads, will move 75 beneath them and lock the plungersagainst pin ejecting movement. The elevator next is turned through andmoves down until the pins have been positioned for discharge in properarrangement on the spots of the alley bed. It is at this time that theseveral solenoids 2| are energized The table l, as shown in Figure 1, ispositioned with the pin holding units 2 located in pin receivingposition. After the pins have been fed to the units 2 and are gripped bygrippers l9, cable I05 attached to the table is responsible for thelowering thereof to rotate the table and deposit the pins carried byunits 2 on the bed 40 of a bowling alley. The means which effects theraising and lowering of table and turning thereof may be of the samegeneral type as that shown in the Schmidt application, above referredto, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, wherein motor 359 is attached tobracket 360 connected by belt 364 to pulley 365 mounted on a shaftcarrying drum 368 about which cable I05 is trained. The table will beraised or lowered depending upon the directionof rotation of drum 365.As in the machine shown in the co-pending Schmidt application, blockI03, to which cable I05 is secured, mounts trunnions 99 secured totable'|. Fixed to trunnions 98 are cranks I06 provided with camfollowers I01 arranged to travel in channel 45 and by-pass 48. Coactingwith channel 46 and 48 are valves 52 and 54. Valve 62 has connectedthereto a spring 63 which normally tends to hold it in the positionshown in Figure 6 so that on the downward movement of the table, camfollower ||1 carried by crank I05 will move in the direction of thearrow (Figure 5) as shown along bypass 48 which will cause the table tobe rotated from the position shown in Figure 1 to that shown in Figure2. See also Figure 5, which also illustrates the relative positions ofthe table at pin receiving and pin discharging stations. when the cableI05 is ,drawn up after the deposition of pins on the alley, cam followerI01 moves back up through by-pass 48 and is responsible for the turningof the table into the position shown in full lines shown in Figure 5.

After the release of the pins from the holders and their positioning onthe alley, the elevator is raised above the bed and remains therepending further steps in the bowling of a frame. The current is cut oifas the elevator moves upwardly and the latches |5 return to theirposition of rest against the heads N.

If, when the first ball is thrown a strike results, although theelevator may be raised and lowered, and the solenoids energized andde-energized, the effect upon the latches is immaterial and they remainresting against heads |4. If, however, one or more pins are standingafter the first ball, it is necessary to remove fallen pins or dead woodfrom the alley. When this occurs, as

the elevator movesdownwardly, the heads of upright pins engage theflared gripper members It and cause the holder unit casings 3 to shiftso that when the pins are lifted, they will be held in the elevator inthe exact position they occupied on the alley after the throwing of thefirst ball, and upon downward movement of the elevator and thesubsequent release of these pins from their respective holder units,they will be replaced on the alley in the exact position they occupiedbefore they were lifted.

When the elevator moves down towards the bed to pick up pins the headsof those pins remaining upright will engage plungers I2, force latchheads |4 upward against the compression of springs 3|, whereupon springs29 force latches l5 to move into latching engagement with heads l4 andthe plungers l2 are locked against pin releasing movement. The elevatorcarrying the pins moves upward away from the bed, and the sweepingoperation is performed as in the Schmidt application referred to. Due tothe use of individual latches for each of the pin holder units, it isimpossible not to grip and lift pins which must be removed for thesweeping operation prior to throwing the second ball. Each standing pinindividually locks the ejecting plunger |2 of its respective unit 3against pin release, and the unit so operated must lift that pin.

As described previously, the mechanism for raising, lowering androtating the elevator for handling the pins, is substantially the sameas that shown in the referred to Schmidt applica-' tion. In a likemanner, it is proposed to utilize the control motor and contact drumwhich con trols the suction in the pin handling members of thatapplication for activating the solenoids which control the release ofthe pins from the' grippers both at the time when a set of ten pins isinitially placed in spotted positionon the bed of an alley before thefirst ball is thrown, and also for the relocation of pins not knockeddown, and prior to the rolling of the second ball.

In Figs. 3 and 4 are shown the electrical connections used for operatingthe solenoids at the desired time to effect the release of the severallatches l5. The solenoids 2| are connected in parallel by means of leads35 and 36 to lines 3| and 33, which lines form part of the circuit whichis closed by the throwing of the bowling ball, as described more fullyin theSchmidt application above referred to. .The current flows fromline 32 through a timing device 34, which is rotated once for eachbowling cycle to effect the necessary control of the solenoids. In line31b is placed a switch 31, which is closed, by means of a finger 38mounted on the elevator I whenever it descends. Switch 31 is pivotallymounted on arm 39 suitably fastened to the frame of the machine. Aspring 48 normally tends to open the contacts 4| and 42 in line 33, anda stop 43 forming a part of arm 39 limits the movement of the switch armunder tension of spring 48. Timing switch 34 is provided with twocontacts 44 and 45, so that the current may flow from line 32 throughbrush 4! and either of the contacts 44 or 45, through brush 46 and backthrough line 3|, solenoids 2| and line 33, when the circuit iscompletely closed, which in the illustrated embodiment occurs twice eachbowling cycle.

Assuming that ten pins have been placed upon the alley, that the firstball has been thrown, and that several pins remain standing, theelevator then moves downwardly to lift the pins which remain upright.Although the finger 38 closes switch 31, brush 4! fails to engage eithercontacts 44 and 45 of the timing device which makes one completerotation for each bowling cycle and hence.the complete circuit is notclosed and the solenoids are not energized. This means that the standingpins will shift the pin holder units 3, force plungers |2 upwardlyagainst the pressure of springs |3|, and latches |5 will move intolocking position beneath heads l4. The elevator then can be movedupwardly while any dead wood is swept from the alley. As pins are1owered again to the bed, the finger 38 again engages with switch 37 toclose the circuit and this time brush 46 will engage contact 44 on thetiming switch device, the circuit will be energized, and solenoids 2iwill operate to effect the release of the plungers !2, which thereuponrelease the pins from the holder unit upon the alley in the exactposition occupied before being lifted. The elevator is then movedupwardly and the second ball is thrown, whereupon the alleyis swept ofall remaining pins which are automatically conveyed to the transfermechanism 'I' which has already received the pins knocked down by thefirst ball. The elevator now takes the full set of pins from thetransfer mechanism and places them in spotted position on the alley bed,ready for the next player. Brush 48 engages contact 45 to close thecircuit, switch 3'l having already been closed by the engagement withfinger 38, the solenoids are again energized in order to release thepins from the holder units. The timing switch is rotated in a mannersimilar to that shown in the Schmidt application.

The invention above described may be varied in construction within thescope of the claims, for the particular device, selected to illustratethe invention, is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of thesame. The invention is not, therefore, to be restricted to the precisedetails of the structure shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for setting pins upon a bed, a pin carrying elevatoradapted to be raised and lowered, a plurality of pin gripping devicescarried by said elevator, said devices comprising, grippers for grippingthe heads of upright pins on said bed, a movable plunger coacting witheach of said grippers for ejecting pins therefrom. and separateindependently movable means arranged to lock each plunger individuallyagainst pin ejecting movement.

2. In an apparatus for setting pins upon a bed, a pin elevator adaptedto be raised and lowered to and from said bed, pin transfer memberscarried by said elevator, each of said members comprising means forgripping the heads of upstand ing pins on said bed, a device associatedwith said means for ejecting pins from said means, and electricallycontrolled mechanism including separately movable elements coacting witheach of said members for preventing the removal of said pins from eachof said members.

3. In a pin setting apparatus, a pin elevator adapted to move pins toand from a bed, pin transfer members mounted upon said elevator, each ofsaid members being provided with a casing having a pin receivingopening, pin holding gripping elements arranged to grip the heads ofpins located about said opening, a spring mounted plunger mounted ineach of said casings and normally tending to eject pins from saidelements, and separate independently movable latches engageable'witheach of said plungers for holding them against pin ejecting movement.

4. In an apparatus for setting pins upon a bed, a pin carrying elevatoradapted to be raised and lowered with respect to said bed, a pluralityof pin holding devices carried by said elevator for movement therewith,said device including means for supporting pins by their head ends, apin ejector for each device, and separate individually operated latchescoacting with each of said ejectors for controlling their movement.

5. In an apparatus for setting pins upon a bed, a pin carrying elevatorarranged to be raised and lowered with respect to said bed, a pluralityof pin gripper units mounted on said bed for gripping pins standing onsaid bed and lifting them therefrom for replacement thereon in theprecise position previously occupied, a movable ejector in each of saidunits, means forcing each of said ejectors into pin ejecting position insaid units, locking heads mounted on each of said ejectors, individuallymovable latches normally bearing against said heads when said ejectorsare in ejecting position, and means for moving each of said latchesindependently into locking engagement with its respective head to causesaid grippers to grip a pin whenever in the downward movement of theelevator a pin engages an ejector and forces it upwardly.

6. In an apparatus for setting pins upon a bed, a pin carrying elevatorarranged to be raised and lowered with reference to said bed, pinholding mechanism carried by said elevator, said mechanism comprisinggrippers for placing pins on the bed upon the downward movements of theelevator, and for lifting upstanding pins from the bed on selectedupward movements of the elevator, and an independently movable latchcoacting with each of said grippers for controlling the operation ofsaid grippers.

'7. In an apparatus for setting pins upon a bed,

a pin carrying elevator arranged to be raised and lowered with respectto said bed, pin holding mechanism mounted upon and moving with saidelevator, said mechanism comprising a plurality of grippers operative toset pins on the bed on the the downward movement of the elevator, and togrip and raise upstanding pins on selected upward movements of saidelevator, and electrically operated latching mechanism includingseparately movable elements controlling the independent operation ofeach of said grippers.

8. In an apparatus for setting pins upon a bed, a pin carrying elevatorturnable from a pin receiving to a pin setting position, means forturning said elevator for transferring a plurality of pins from saidreceiving position for release in predetermined playing arrangement uponsaid bed at said setting position, a plurality of pin holding devicesmovable with respect to said elevator carried by said elevator forholding said pins, and means for locking said devices against relativemovement with respect to said elevator during the transfer of said pinsfrom said receiving position to said setting position upon said bed.

9. In an apparatus for setting pins upon a bed, a pin carrying elevatorturnable from a pin receiving to a pin setting position, means forturning said elevator for transferring a plurality of pins from saidreceiving position for release in predetermined positions upon said bedat said setting position, a plurality of pin holding devices carried bysaid elevator for holding said pins, and means for preventing movementof said devices relative to said elevator during the transfer of saidpins from said receiving position to said bed, said devices also beingindependently operable subsequently to lift pins from said bed andrelocate them thereon in the same playing position each lifted pinoccupied whenever they are lifted from said bed to allow for the removalof fallen pins.

10. In an apparatus for setting pins upon a bed, a pin carrying elevatorarranged to turn, transfer a plurality of pins from a receiving stationand release them in predetermined positions on said bed, a plurality ofmovable pin holding devices carried by said elevator for holding saidpins, means for locking said devices against relative movement withrespect to said elevator while said elevator is moving during saidtransferof pins, a pin ejector for each device, and separateindividually operated latches coacting with each of said ejectors forholding them against pin ejecting movement.

11. In an apparatus for setting pins upon a bed, a pin carrier adaptedto be raised and low ered, a plurality of pin holding devices carried bysaid carrier, a pin ejector for each of said devices, means for mountingsaid devices for horizontal shifting movement with respect to pinsstanding on said bed, whereby pins maybe lifted from the bed andsubsequently be relocated thereon in the exact position from which theywere removed, and separate individually movable controlled means foreach of said devices for effecting the release of pins therefrom.

12. In an apparatus for setting pins upon a bed, a pin carrier adaptedto be raised and lowered, a plurality 01' pin holding devices carried bysaid carrier, 8. pin ejector for each of said devices, means formounting said devices for horizontal shifting movement with respect topins standing on said bed, whereby pins may be lifted from the bed andsubsequently be returned to the exact position from which they wereremoved, means for holding said devices against said shifting movement,and separate individually controlled, movable means for each of saiddevices for effecting the release of pins therefrom.

13. In an apparatus for setting pins, a pin carrier to be arranged to beraised and lowered, a plurality of pin holding members supported-on saidcarrier, said members being mounted for horizontal shifting movement onsaid carrier whereby they may shift to align themselves with uprightpins on said bed whenever pins are to be lifted and returned to said bedin order to reposition said pins on said bed in exactly the sameposition they occupied prior to removal,

and independent electrically operated devices associated with each ofsaid members for effecting the release of pins from said members.

14. In an apparatus for setting pins upon a bed, a pin carrying elevatorarranged to transfer a plurality of pins from a receiving station riedby said elevator for holding said pins, a pin ejector for each device,and separate individually operated latches coacting with each of saidejectors for holding them against pin ejecting movement.

15. In an apparatus for setting pins upon a bed, a pin carrying elevatorarranged to transfer a plurality of pins from a receiving station andrelease them in predetermined positions on said bed, a plurality of pinholding devices carried by said elevator for holding said pins, a pinejector for each device, separate individually operated latches coactingwith each of said ejectors for holding them against pin ejectingmovement, and means controlled by the position of the elevator foroperating said latches to effect the release of said pins.

16. In an apparatus for setting pins upon a bed, a pin carrying elevatoradapted to be raised and lowered with respect to said bed, a pluralityof pin holding devices-carried by said elevator for movement therewith,ejecting means for said devices, separate individually operated latchescoacting with each of said means for controlling the operation of saidmeans, controlled mechanism cooperating with said elevator to deliverpins held thereby upon said alley including, a timing switch, electricalconnections for each of said means, and means for closing the circuitthrough said means on selected movement of said elevator.

17. In an apparatus for setting pins upon a bed, a pin carrying elevatorarranged to be raised and lowered with reference to said bed, pinholding mechanism carried by said elevator, said mechanism comprising,grippers for placing pins on the bed and for lifting upstanding pins inorder to provide for the removal of fallen pins therefrom, individualelectric controls for each of said pin holding mechanisms, an electriccir cult, means carried by said elevator for closing said circuit on thedown movement of the elevator, of a timing mechanism for selectivelyoperating said pin holding mechanism for releasing pins held therebywhen said elevator is in its lowered position.

RUPERT E RUNDELL.

